Check writer



Dec. 21, 1937; o. sLETTEvoLD E'r Al. 2,103,098

CHECK WRITER Filed Feb. l5, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 21, 1937. o. sLETTEvoLD l-:T AL

- CHECK WRITER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. l5, 1934 Dec. 2l, 1937. o. sLETTEvoLD ET AL 2,103,098

CHECK WRITER Filed Feb. 15, 1934 s sheets-sheet 3 gj 66 6g 754 @y Patented Dec. 21, 1937 UNITED STATES CHECK WRITER Ole Slettevold and Clarence W. Johnson, Chicago, lill., assignors to The Hedman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illi- Application February 15, 1934, Serial No. 711,299

15 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to check writing machines, and more particularly to improvements in the set up mechanism and in the means for optionally restoring the set up mechanism to normal position.

4In most check writing machines of the slide set type, the operation of setting up the amount is rendered difcult due tothe necessity of pushing the slide until an indicator registers the particular figure desired.

In the machine of the present invention, the operator places his nger in a recess formed in the slide bar adjacent'the desired digit and draws the slide forwardly and downwardly until his finger is arrested by a fixed stop. The slide bars normally conceal numerals which are revealed after the slide has been actuated, so that the amount set up is clearly indicated prior to the imprinting and scarifying operation.

It is therefore an object ofthe invention to provide an improved set up kmechanism for check writing machines which may be easily operated, will register the amount set up, and may be economically manufactured.

, A further object is to provide a check writer having improved means for restoring the amount i setting means.

A further object is to provide anv improved check writer which is simple in construction and operation and which may be economically manufactured.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical sectional View taken on the line I-I of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the mechanism within the casing, the casing and a number of other parts being omitted or shown in fragmentary section, more clearly to illustrate the remaining parts;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view Ashowing the set up mechanism and the printing mechanism `in operated position;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View showing the restoring mechanism in fully actuated position;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a set up slide bar, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the means for guiding the set up slide bars.

The check writing machine comprises, generally, a base I, which is preferably a die casting but may be otherwise formed, and which has an upwardly extending rear support I2 normally integral therewith. The base -III has a platen supporting plate I4 rigidly secured thereto, this supporting plate being arranged to form a mounting for the amount printing platen I6 and the payee name scarifying platen I8. These platens, or either of them, may be secured to the plate I4 by any suitable position adjusting means desired.

A rear frame plate is rigidly secured to the support I2 and has a pair of forwardly extending vertical flanges 22 at its extremities, to which side frame plates 24 and 28 are secured. The operating mechanism of the machine is suitably )supported uponshafts and rods carried by these two side frame plates.

A plurality of type segments 28 are mounted for rotation upon a shaft 30, the ends of which have flattened portions guided for vertical movement in the slots 32 formed in the side frame plates. The type segments are provided with suitable type 34, which are preferably conformed to cooperate with the serrated upper surface of the platen I6, so as not only to imprint the amount but also to scarify the check or other instrument. Each of the segments is provided with a V-toothed segmental portion'36 for cooperation with a suitable aligning bar, which is not shown in the drawings. Y

The type are inked by means of an ink pad 38 mounted upon an ink pad carrier 40, the latter having a pair of sidewardly projecting 'pins 42v which are guided in slots 44 formed in the side plates. The ink pad carrier is shifted by means of a pair of links 4B, each of which has one end pivotally connected to the carrier and the other end pivotally connected to an arm -48 mounted for rotation upon the shaft `3Il. Each ofthe arms 48 is provided with a segmental gear portion 50, which meshes with a rack 52 fixed to the side frame. From the above description, it will be apparent that as the shaft 30 moves downwardly from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1, the arm 48` will be'caused to rotate and will move the ink pad carrier to the rear (to the left, Fig. 1), the ink padV being forced against the type which are in a position to print, because of the irregular shape of the cam slots 44.

Each of the type segments 28 has one end of a link 54 pivotally connected-thereto, the'other end of the link being pivotally connected to an arm 5E mounted for free rotation upon a shaft 58. The extremity of each of the arms 56 has a headed sidewardly-extending stud 60 secured thereto, the studs being engaged by depending slotted brackets 52, which are formed integrally with Fh@ .ld bar retainers 64 and which project through suitable slots formed in a curved plate 66.

Each of the slide bar retainers has a long, ar- 'cuately-shaped strip portion 68, which ts into a complementally-shaped groove 'I0 formed in the slide bar T2, which is formed of a phenol condensation product or other suitable material, preferably one which may be molded. The lower end of the retainer E4 has an upwardly extending lug I4 which is bent over the lower end of the slide bar l2 so as rigidly to clinch the parts together. The slide bar l2 has a plurality of cuspshaped projections 'I8 and a large projection 18. The spaces between the projections form fingerreceiving recesses by means of which the bar may readily be engaged for manual setting. Each of the slide bars l2 has a sidewardly projecting flange portion 80, the major portion of which lies beneath a flange 82 forming part of an arcuately-bent angle 84, which is suitably secured to the plate 66. The surface of the Banged portion has the numerals from 0 to 9 marked thereon, one of these numerals being visible through a sight opening 86 formed in the fiange 82 of the angle strip 84 whenever the slide bar is moved from normal position. When in normal position, all of the slide bars except those in the units, tens, and hundreds order will have a blank portion of the surface of the fiange 80 visible through the sight openings 86, while the units, tens, and hundreds slide bars will have the zeros visible therethrough. The upper surfaces of the flanges V82 for the units, tens, and hundreds orders have the digits 1 to 9 marked thereon, whereas the flanges 82 of the higher orders are marked from 0 to 9.

Each of the slide bars 'l2 has a series of eleven notches 88 formed therein for cooperation with a spring detent arm 90. The arms are preferably stamped with a singlesheet in the form of a comb and are secured to the plate Tl by screws 92. The slides at the lower ends of their stroke are cushioned by spring arms 94 forming part of a comb 96 which is secured to the plate 66. A suitable casing 98 is provided to cover the working parts of the machine.

An operating handle |00 is detachably secured to the right hand end of operating shaft 58 and has a pair of arms |02 rigidly secured thereto. The arms |82 are provided with arcuately-shaped slots |04 concentric with the axis of the shaft 58. Upon clockwise rotation (Fig. 3) of the shaft 58, the arm |02 is adapted to move a link |06 forwardly, the latter being connected to the arm |02 by a headed stud |08 which projects freely through the slot |84. The forward end of the link |06 is pivotally secured to the lower extremity of a bent lever I8, pivotally mounted upon a shaft |2. An arm |4 has one end thereof pivotally secured to the mid-portion of lever Ill) and its other end pivotally secured to shaft 38. It will thus be seen that forward movement of the link |05:` will cause downward movement of the shaft 30 to effect inter-engagement of the type 34 and platen |6.

The means for effecting clearing of the machine comprises a cam H6 rigidly secured to shaft 58 and provided with a slot IIS, which is concentric with the axis of the shaft 58. A link |20 has a headed stud |22 projecting through the slot ||8 and has its other end connected to the mid-portion of an arm |24, by a pin and slot lostmotion connection. The arm |24 is mounted for rotation on a shaft |28, and its upper end is pivotally connected to a link |28, by means of a stud |30. The stud projects sidewardly from the arm |24 through an open end slot |32 formed in the end of a stop arm |34 pivoted upon the shaft 2. The opposite end of link |28 is pivotally connected to one of the arms |36 of a bail having a cross bar |38. The bail arms |36 are pivoted upon the shaft 58 and the cross bar |38 of the bail normally lies in front of the flattened edge surfaces |40 (Fig. 3) of the arms 56. A tension spring |42 has one end connected to the pin |22 and the other end anchored to the shaft H2.

The check writer is operated in the following manner: The amount is set up by inserting the finger betwen the projections '18 opposite the desired numeral, which is marked upc-n the flange 82. The slide is then drawn forwardly and downwardly until the nger abuts against the flange |44 of the casing 88, the latter forming a stop for the finger. The spring detents 90 will, of course, tend to cause the slide bars to stop in aligned position. After the slide bars of the various denominational orders have been manipulated to set up the desired amount, the setting may readily be checked by observing the numerals marked upon the flange 80 of the slide bars through the sight opening 86. Downward and forward movement of the slide bars causes corresponding clockwise movement of the arms 56, forward movement of the links 54 and clockwise movements of the type segments 34, so as to bring the desired type into alignment with the platen 6.

Having set the type segments, the handle ||0 is swung forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 3. During the initial portion of this forward swinging movement of the operating handle, a wedge-shaped aligning bar will be forced into the notches formed in the portion 36 of the type carriers 28, and accurately register the type segments with the platen by any suitable conventional means. During this forward movement, the arms. |02 will swing the links |06 forwardly and thereby depress the shaft 30 to cause impression of the amount upon the check, which is, of course, inserted in the throat of the machine directly above the platen |6. During the downward movement of the type segment shaft 30, and just prior to the contact of the type with the platen, the inking pad 30 will be pressed against the set type to ink the same. Upon completion of the impressing operation, the handle and all parts except the set up mechanism will be restored to normal position, suitable springs (not shown) being provided to restore the parts.

When, however, it is desired to clear the set up mechanism, the handle |00 is moved from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4. During the initial portion of this movement, the lost motion between the link |20 and arm |24 is rst taken up, and then the latter` is swung counterclockwise to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4. During this movement, the arm |24 draws the link |28 rearwardly and swings the bail |36, |38, counter-clockwise about the axis of the shaft 58. During this counter-clockwise swinging movement of the bail, the cross bar |38 thereof will successively engage the fiat edge surfaces |40 of the arms 56 and swing all of the latter F counter-clockwise, together with their connected slides, to their normal positions. The handle is then restored to normal position by means of the spring |42, the slotted arm ||6 and parts connected therewith being prevented from overyeo amamos throw by the engagement 4of the pin v|30 in the .end ofthe slot |32 formed in the stop arm |34;

It will be understood that in the normal operation ofthe machine, the arm will lrst be swung from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3, and then -returned to the position in which it Vis shown in Fig. 4 and released,whereupon it Y will return to the position shown in Fig. 1. When, however, it is desired to utilize the machine for imprinting a plurality of checks of the same amount, the handle |00 is merely swung from the position inwhich it is shown in Fig. 1 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3, and permitted to return to normalposition (Fig.v 1*), under the inuenceof its return springs. In this event, the amount set-up will be retained and, upon repeated operation of the handle |00, Vthe amount may 'berepetitively printed. `The machine may likewise be operated in this manner when checks, the amounts of which ldifferin only one or two of the denominational orders, are to be printed. In such cases, it may be more enicient vto operate the machinel as for a repeat, and merely reset one of the slide bars 80, grasping the large projection 18 on the slide and moving the slide until the proper numeral is brought into registry with the sight opening 88. Because of the provision of the simple clearing mechanism, which may be very easily and rapidly operated, the check writer is very efficient and requires a minimum of timefor the setting up ofv the amount and imprinting it upon the check.

While a particular embodiment of the invention is shown, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications in design and construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a check writing machine, the combination of a printing couple; set-up mechanism, restoring mechanism for the latter, an operating handle, means for operating said printing couple upon movement of said handle in one direction from its normal position, and means for operating said restoring mechanism upon movement of said handle in a different direction from its normal position.

2. In a check writing machine, the combination of a platen, a plurality of rotatable type carriers having type cooperable with said platen,

a plurality of manually operable slides, mechanical connections between said slides and said type carriers, an operating shaft, a type restoring mechanism, a mechanism for pressing said type against said platen, and a lost motion connection between said shaft and each of said mechanisms, one of said connections being operable to transmit power from said shaft to its associated mechanism upon rotation of said shaft from its normal position in one direction, and the other of said connections being operable to transmit power to its associated mechanism upon rotation of said shaft from its normal position in the opposite direction.

3. In a check writing machine, the combination of a plurality of type segments, a platen therefor, means for moving said type segments against said platen, a plurality of manually 0perable slides, operating connections between said segments and said slides, and an operating shaft movable in one direction from normal position to actuate said means and movable in a diiferent directionrom normal position to restore `said slides to normal position.

4. In a check writer, the combination of a plurality of manually settable members, a plurality of type carriers, a link and arm forming an operating connection between each of said members and its associated type carrienanoperating handle, means connected for operation byfsaid handle when the latter is movedv `in one direction from normal position to effect a printing operation, and means engageable with said operating Aconnections for restoring said members upon movement of the operating handle in the opposite direction from normal position.

5. In a check writer, the combination of a plurality of printing elements, manually engageable members for setting said elements, an operating handle movable in one direction from normal position to effect a printing operation of said printing elements, and means for restoring said members and elements upon movement of said operating handle in a different direction from normal position.

6. In a check writer, the combination of a plurality of manually settable members, a plurality of .type'carriers, operating connections between said members and said carriers, an operating handle, means connected for operation by said handle when the latter is moved in one direction to effect a printing operation, and means for restoring said members upon movement of the operating handle in the opposite direction.

7. In a check writer, the combination of a plurality of printing elements, manually engageable slides 'for setting said elements, an operating handle movable from normal position in one way to effect a printing operation of said printing elements, and means for restoring said slides upon movement of said operating handle in a different way from normal positions I 8. In a check writer, the combination of a plurality of type carriers, means to set said carriers in printing position, said means comprising a plurality of slide bars, each of said bars comprising a row of projections forming finger-receiving recesses therebetween, a sidewardly extending flange having numeral indicia thereon, and a plurality of downwardly projecting teeth vforming detent-receiving notches, and an operative connection between said slide bars and said type carriers.

9. In a machine of the class described, a Set-up slide of a molded substance and having a plurality of relatively small projections forming 1ingertip receiving recesses therebetween, and a single relatively large projection adjacent one end adapted to be grasped between the fingers.

10. As an article of manufacture, an integral molded slide bar for check writers having a plurality of projections forming nger-receiving recesses therebetween, a sidewardly projecting flange having numeral indicia thereon, and aplurality of projections forming notches therebetween for engagement by a spring detent.

11. In a machine of theclass described, the combination of a plurality of individually settable type carriers, manipulative means for selectively setting said type carriers, said means comprising an arcuate slide, a pivoted arm having a pin and slot connection with said slide, and a link connecting said arm and one of said carriers.

12. In a manually operable set-up mechanism for check writers, the combinationcf a slotted plate, a molded slide bar having nger-tip receiving recesses formed therein and a sidewardly ex- Cil tending ange portion, a slide bar retainer secured to said bar and projecting through said slot, and an angle strip having a notched flange overlying the flange portion of said slide bar, the notch in said flange serving as a sight aperture through which numerals on the ange portion of said slide bar may be observed, and detent means cooperating with said slide bar for holding yieldingly said slide in adjusted position.

13. In a check writing machine, the combination of a plurality of type carrying elements, manually operable members for selectively setting said elements, an operating shaft, means to move said printing elements to eiect a printing operation, a pin and slot driving connection between said shaft and said last named means, means for restoring said members to normal position, and a pin and slot driving connection between said shaft and said restoring means.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of rotatable type carriers, a plurality of manually shiftable slides for selectively setting said type carriers, a plurality of pivote-d arms having a pin and slot connection with said slides respectively, links each connecting one of said arms with one of said carriers, a bail having its bar extending transverse to the direction of movement of said arms, an operating shaft, and a lost motion driving connection between said bail and said shaft, whereby said bail is movable to restore said arms to their normal positions.

15. In a check writing machine, the combination of a plurality of type carrying elements, manually operable members for selectively setting said elements, an operating shaft, a handle secured to said shaft for normally oscillating the latter through a forward and return stroke, means for moving said type carrying elements to eifect a printing operation, a lost motion connection between said last named means and said operating shaft to permit rearward oscillation of said shaft beyond the end of its normal return stroke, means for restoring said members to normal position, and a lost motion operating connection between said restoring means and said operating shaft to permit said shaft to oscillate normally through its forward and return stroke without operating-said restoring mea-ns and to cause operation of said restoring means when said shaft is moved in the direction of its return stroke beyond the normal extent of movement thereof.

' OLE SLETTEVOLD.

CLARENCE W. JOHNSON. 

